Islands Get Hit Hard By Cyclone Gene

APCEDI Alert SP/Fj 15P Gene #7-2008: Cyclone Gene Pounds Southern Vanuatu and Causes Serious Damage on Futuna, but Begins to Move Away
The RSMC-Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre, the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre continue to issue guidance on Tropical Cyclone Gene that is now moving away from Vanuatu after pounding the southernmost islands.

The centre of Cyclone Gene is located 75 km east-northeast of the southernmost Vanuatu island of Anatom at 5 PM this evening Vanuatu time with the centre of the storm likely to sideswipe the island to the southeast before moving away from Vanuatu. Gene is maintaining a slow forward speed to the south-southwest at 4 km/hr. Cyclone Gene continues to maintain strength and has again formed a clear eye feature.

The current forecast map shows Gene continuing to recurve towards the south and will begin to move away from Vanuatu this evening. Southern recurvature now looks strong enough to avoid a direct hit on New Caledonia.

Cyclone Gene is currently at a strong Category 2 strength on the Saffir Simpson Scale. This equates to a Category 3 on the Australia Scale and will remain at this strength as it begins to move away to the south and into the open South Pacific Ocean.

Cyclone Warnings remain in place for all of Tafea Province of Southern Vanuatu including the islands of Erromango, Tanna, Anatom, Aniwa and Futuna and all adjacent small islands. A Cyclone warning has now been discontinued for Shefa Province of Central Vanuatu.

Here is an island by island breakdown for Tafea Province.

Futuna, population 400; Futuna, Vanuatu's easternmost island, has received the worst impact from the storm having been battered for nearly 18 hours by the intense centre part of this slow moving cyclone. Severe and widespread damage is being reported throughout the island including the damage or complete loss of many homes, and the island's churches and schools and other buildings. However, the 400 residents have so far been reported safe riding out the storm in stronger shelters. Given the rough, steep volcanic terrain, flash flooding off the volcano slopes continues to be a severe threat. Seas will be phenomenal and likely to cause severe coastal erosion and tidal flooding. Futuna will likely need immediate and long-term relief assistance as soon as possible given the widespread destruction to buildings and crops.

Anatom (Anietyum), population 800; Anatom, Vanuatu's southernmost island, is also taking a strong pounding from the storm and will continue to experience very bad conditions for some 6-10 more hours as Cyclone Gene passes to the southeast. Little information has been heard from Anatom as communications are down, but similar type damage as that experienced on Futuna is likely. Given the rough, steep volcanic terrain, flash flooding off the volcanic slopes could be severe. Seas will be phenomenal and likely to cause severe coastal erosion and tidal flooding. The extent of the damage will depend on how close the storm moves past the island as it begins to recurve away. Anatom will also likely need immediate and long-term relief assistance as soon as possible given the likelihood of widespread destruction to buildings and crops.

Tanna, population 26,000; Tanna, the island with the Province's largest population, has escaped the brunt of the storm. However widespread minor to moderate damage is being reported from around the island particularly on south and east sides. Communication has been lost with many villages, but it is likely that lots of trees are down, crops damaged and some damage to structures. No one has been reported injured so far. Given the rough, steep volcanic terrain, flash flooding off the volcano slopes could be severe. Seas will be phenomenal and likely to cause severe coastal erosion and tidal flooding. This assessment also applies to the small island of Aniwa, population 400, which lies off the northeast coast of Tanna and which has lost all communication to Vila.

Erromango, population 1,500; The northernmost island escaped the full brunt of Cyclone Gene but did experience some destructive gale force winds, very rough seas and heavy rains. Damage has been widespread but mostly minor and limited to trees and powerlines down although many villages on the south and east coast have lost communication. Given the rough, steep volcanic terrain, flash flooding off the volcano slopes could be severe. Seas will be phenomenal and likely to cause severe coastal erosion and tidal flooding.

New Caledonia remains on Cyclone Alert but the threat to the territory has been reduced as the cyclone looks like it will recurve tot he south. Nonetheless heavy rains, and very high seas will occur in some area. The New Caledonian islands of Lifou, Maré and Ouvéa should be particularly watchful as the storm passes to the east of these islands.

All residents and interests in Southern Vanuatu and New Caledonia should monitor the progress of the storm and follow all cyclone advice that the Government issues. Cyclone Gene continues to be a strong and dangerous storm capable of considerable widespread and severe damage on any islands near to where the centre of the storm passes.